By Marea67About: Brothers & Sisters (general)Rate: Can’t go higher than PG-13, as this is American Television, but I may add a few ‘deleted scenes’ here and there. ;)Disclaimer: Just escaping from reality here, not created for financial gainSummary: It is my very own season 6, you guys! Go with it! ;) Don’t complain! If YOU can do better, post your own story! (I dare you!)

***** PART 3/4 *****

Seth looks up from his books when he hears Kitty open the door.“Where have you been? Tried to reach you several times this morning.” He asks and Kitty sits down on the chair opposite of him.“I went to the doctor… to have our child taken away….”

She tries to say tell him that she changed her mind halfway, but Seth cuts her off.“What?! Why didn’t you tell me? I would have gone with you! This was so hard for you… Why did you go all alone? I wanted to be by your side. You shouldn’t have had to do this on your own!” Seth is clearly upset over Kitty’s solitary action.

“Yes! I had to!” Kitty replies angrily. “I had no desire to have anyone there, telling me that I was doing the right thing by killing my baby! Everyone said I should think of myself first, when all I can think of is my baby. I wasn’t ready to listen to other people’s opinion, when I had to give up the one thing I wanted most in my life… I didn’t need you there to hold my hand.” She says bitterly.

“I’m sorry that I made it so tough for you, and I know that you don’t want to hear this, but this is for the best. And just for the record. I too, wanted that baby very much….”“You did?” Kitty asks, somewhere hoping that Seth had changed his mind and that he regretted that she had the baby taken away.

If that was the case, he would be so happy that she didn’t go through with it, but Seth destroys all her hopes with the words that follow:“But as hard as it was, I’m glad you went through with it… because at least now, the danger is past. I’m sorry, I know I sound heartless, especially knowing how much you wanted this baby….”

Kitty clams up. She knows that Seth is young, inexperienced in certain things and tact isn’t always his forte either, but it hurts so much to know that her baby isn’t wanted.“Seth, if you don’t mind, I just want to lie down a bit and have a good cry.” Kitty tries to mask her pain at the rejection of their child.

“Yeah, sure… If there’s anything you need….” Seth tries to be loving and caring, but Kitty carefully pushes him away.“No thanks. I’m fine.” Kitty mumbles and she escapes to the bedroom, wondering how she must now tell him that the baby is still there.

*****

Elizabeth colors the dolls she just drew. Julia looks at it and she can’t help herself.“Who have you been drawing?” She asks.“Uncle Kevin,…” She points to Kevin, in the middle, first. “Uncle Scotty, Olivia, Daniel and me… And that is you.”

So the stick-thingy in the corner with the yellow straws on her bubble-head is supposed to be Julia.“I’m flattered.” Julia grins and caresses Elizabeth’s hair. “Where’s daddy?”“Gone.”

“Gone where?”“Don’t know.” Elizabeth shrugs and the topic doesn’t seem to interest her either.“You could draw him here, with Uncle Kevin.”“No. Uncle Kevin belongs with Uncle Scotty. It dad was there, Uncle Kevin and dad would argue.” Elizabeth explains.

“Point taken.” Julia admits. She tries again. “Or perhaps draw daddy and Rose over here in the other corner. There’s still some blank spot left.” She suggests. Elizabeth looks up at her.“Rose is gone too.”

So, Elizabeth noticed it. Julia had spoken to Rose, a few days after she and Tommy had broken up. Rose had returned to Seattle, where she and Julia had run into each other, just by accident.“You know then, that Rose and daddy are no longer together?”

“Yes.”“Do you miss her?” Julia asks. Elizabeth seems to need to think that one over for a few seconds, but then she shakes her curly head.“No. Not really…. She was nice though.”

Those words are the greatest compliment Elizabeth can give Rose.“I know where she lives right now and it’s not that far away from here and she told me that she would still like to see you?”“No, thanks.” Elizabeth shrugs and continues to draw. Julia gives up.

Julia tries to focus on the newspaper again, she needs to find a job. Fast.“I miss him.” Elizabeth suddenly says out of the blue and Julia smiles.“Well, if you want, you can call your daddy?” She suggests. Elizabeth gives her mother a puzzled look, but then smiles as well.

“No, silly, not daddy, Uncle Kevin. I miss Uncle Kevin.”“You miss him more than daddy?” Julia asks and Elizabeth nods.“I miss the Walkers and grandma and ….”“I thought we could maybe go to grandpa and grandma Ridge?” Julia suggests.

“Do we have to?” Elizabeth asks, making a dirty face.“You don’t like them?” Julia asks.“Yes. I do… For a few days… but I’d rather be with Uncle Kevin. And the others.” Elizabeth states.

“You and Uncle Kevin are very close.” Julia says, not exactly a question, but more a acceptance of fact.“I sometimes wish that he was my daddy.” Elizabeth shrugs, drawing something green at Olivia’s feet. “That’s Olivia’s gecko, Zemulon. He’s so cool.” Elizabeth explains.

The topic of Kevin is dropped instantly to concentrate on the gecko. Julia closes the newspaper. To be honest, she misses the Walkers as well. Not Tommy, but the others. Nora, Sarah, Justin, ... Kevin. She had heard so much about Olivia and Daniel, but never met them. Sarah got remarried...

What was she doing here alone in Seattle anyway? Should she consider a return to Pasadena, even if it meant being closer to Tommy again, which was just about the only thing she didn’t want? She had hoped that she could built a life for herself in Seattle, but deep in her heart, she knows that she doesn’t belong there..

*****

Nora enters the bedroom, where Brody is packing the last few items in his bag.“Brody?” He turns around to see her. “Why don’t I come with you?”“But you just got home.”“Yes, and I’ve seen the house and the kids and the garden. It’s all still here….”

She smiles as sweetly as she can and she lets her hand rest on Brody’s arm.“But if you need me, I’ll be glad to go with you.”“That is very sweet, but I don’t need you.” Brody replies bluntly and then, realizing how his words must sound to her, he says more softly:

“I’d love to take you with me, but I think, for the time being, it’s best if we wait a little more. Besides, if I’m right, and I think I am, I can easily solve the issues back home in a few days and be back with you before the end of the week.” He kisses her head, as if to sooth her a bit and Nora frowns.

“Brody, I’m not a little girl. Stop this nonsense. Why won’t you take me with you, so I can meet your family and, please, don’t tell me that none of them, besides Lori-Lynn, is interested in meeting me.”“They’d love to meet you, I’m sure.” Brody says, but Nora is not satisfied with his words.

“That is not enough, Brody. Are you hiding something from me? Please, don’t lie, I’m so sick and tired of being lied to ‘for my own good’. Let me decide what is for my own good!” Brody wonders for a second if he should talk or try to avoid talking, but then he sighs.

“I’m not ready for this, Nora. When I told the kids about Sarah and you, none of them were too thrilled. They probably sent Lori-Lynn as an advanced scout to see who the Walkers are and what they can add to our family.” He says.“So… your children are not happy about me, Sarah or the others?”

“No.” Brody sourly admits. “I’m sorry, but I so wanted them to love you and Sarah and the others as much I do. I would like them to meet you and your family with open arms, like your family greeted me, but I’m afraid that it will not happen…” Brody looks miserable because he had to tell her the truth.

“And you believe that my kids were any better or more polite about meeting Rebecca or Ryan? I think it’s a normal reaction. I believe that it’s normal for there to be a certain wish to protect your own family and to become territorial.”“I thought you might dislike my kids for feeling that way.”

“I don’t, though eventually, if we keep our relationship going, we’ll have to face them and discuss their behavior and feelings regarding Sarah and me.”“I wanted to do just that while I was home. I’ve taken an entire stack of pictures. I want to tell them about you and Sarah, but it will take some time….”

“If you need that time to make a meeting with Sarah more smoothly, then take that time, but don’t lie to me about it. I’m so done with all the lies. Be honest.”“I’m sorry, I really am. After everything you told me about William, I should have realized that for myself, but it’s so hard sometimes to do the right thing.

I love you, Nora, and I don’t want to lose you all over again. This time I want to make it work and be the partner you deserve to have.” Nora reaches out to him to kiss him.“Then, please, from now on, treat me like an adult and not like some 5-year old. Talk to me.” She advices sweetly.

*****

“We can’t stay here. We have to get help … for dad.” Paige says, slowly coming out of her shock. Gabe lifts his head. His face is covered in dirt, with lines that show where his tears had come down.“We can’t leave… I wouldn’t know where to find them again..”

“Then we have to split up… I can go back down. There’s a ranger-station…. Maybe they can help.”“No, … I know, you’re right, but you two stay here. I’ll go. I’ve been here before and I can move faster without you two.”

“Stay here?” Paige’s voice is very small. She doesn’t know which scares her more. Moving or staying. Gabe crawls closer and places one hand on Cooper’s cheek, the other one on Paige’s.“It’s for the best. I am the fastest of us three. I will come back. I swear.”

Paige nods quietly and Cooper looks terrified.“Coop, can I talk you? Just a second? Man to man? …” He takes Cooper a few steps away from Paige. “Listen, bro, I need you to stay focused, okay. I need you to protect Paige. For just once, don’t tease her and don’t disobey her. I want you to listen her when I’m gone.

Don’t upset her more than she already is. Can you do that for me? Be strong…? Be very, very strong? For Paige?” Cooper nods with a serious look on his face, fully aware of the responsibility that Gabe gives him. Gabe smiles and brushes a tear from his brother’s face. Cooper is most likely not even aware of it.

He turns to Paige. From the little grin on her face he knows that she has heard everything he said to Cooper and he can’t help but give her a quick wink, before saying:“Don’t go near the ledge. If more debris falls, we might lose dad as well.” Gabe starts to tremble again when he remembers his mother’s face as she lost grip.

He starts to breathe quickly and superficially. Paige immediately moves closer to him.“Easy. Head between your knees. Calm down, Gabe. You can freak out later, but right now, we need you… Coop needs you… I need you… dad needs you…” She gently rubs his back. “Breathe in….. breathe out…”

Slowly the trembling passes and Gabe calms down again.“I’m fine. I’ll be fine.” He gets up and brushes his jeans clean. “I’ll get us help.” He quickly kisses both Cooper and Paige on their heads and then turns around. Soon enough he disappears from sight and that is when Paige really has to control her fear in front of Cooper.

“Mhmm, terrific! If this is just the sauce, don’t bother with the rest of the dish.” He laughs. Scotty grins too.“Not too spicy?”“I’d say ‘mildly spiced’.” Tommy replies.

“Okay, thanks.” Scotty says, knowing that if Tommy thinks it’s mildly spiced, it’s usually too hot to handle for any normal human being. He now focuses his attention on his brother-in-law. “Did you need Kevin for anything in particular? Or can I help?”“No, just wanted to moan over the fact that I feel… useless and such.”

“Oh, that.” Scotty replies dryly. “Well, you can moan to me, but if you do, I’ll be turning on the blender to not have to listen to you, because, at this moment I think it’s awfully unfair that you can sit there, twiddling your thumbs, when I am somehow always 10 hours a day short….”

“Maybe you should be the one moaning and I’ll listen..” Tommy suggests. “It’s not like I’m busy with anything else.”“Did you hear that I inherited a hotel?”“Kevin told Justin who then told me about it, yes.”

“I would really like to go back and see if I can make something of the place…”“Why don’t you? Café 429 is doing great. Angie is a good cook who can replace you, if you want to do something else, so what’s the problem?”“She can replace me in the kitchen, sure, but the rest of the work?”

“What do you mean?”“Bookkeeping, supplies need to be kept up to date, bills need to be paid, what about bookings?”“You do all that by yourself?”

“Usually Saul helps me, but he’s spending more and more time with Jonathan and he leaves me in charge… This means that the hours he usually works here, fall on me as well… Plus the hotel… I’d like to make a decision, but I’m not sure yet if I want to keep it or not.”

“If you need my help….” Tommy offers.“Would you? Want to help me?”“Sure.”“It’s just for a couple of weeks…. I’ll pay you, of course.”

“I’d love to have something to do.” Tommy says.“I’m afraid it’s not as complicated as Ojai Foods….” Scotty warns.“Fine. I don’t need ‘complicated’ right now.” Tommy smiles and he follows Scotty into Scotty’s office.

*****

“This such a lovely place.” Rebecca smiles. They found this little restaurant on their second day in town and had been back to it repeatedly because it offered such a feeling of privacy, which they didn’t always have with David around. Plus they offered a good meal for a decent price, which was also a blessing after all the junk-food at the hotel.

Rebecca enjoys Rick’s company even more, now that David is often with them. It is as if the little moments with Rick alone have become even more precious to her.“Do you sincerely like it here, because if you wish to go home, we’ll fly back tomorrow.” Rick asks again and Rebecca starts to laugh.

“Are you sure that YOU are not the one who wants to leave? I think this must be the sixth or seventh time that you’ve asked me that. And Dad has told me same and Mom also said that she could have ticket at my disposal whenever I needed one. Do I give off such a negative vibe?”

“No! No, you don’t, it’s just that I wasn’t sure if you were just keeping a brave front for David or not.”“Well, I’m not. I think this place is amazing and I can’t wait to get into the jungle tomorrow and go with you guys to see the location where they will film….”

“You are aware that there could be snakes and spiders and scorpions and ….”“Well, as long as there are no dinosaurs.” Rebecca shrugs. “Yes, I read the information-folder on the location and as terrifying as it all sounds, it also feels very exciting to go with you guys.”

Rick plays with his food and Rebecca starts to feel uncomfortable.“Rick? Do YOU wish to return to New York? Because if you do, then go back and don’t wait for me to change my mind. This is all a great adventure to me and as much as I love you, I’m not willing to give it up just yet.” She warns.

“I know you won’t and that is alright. It’s just that… sometimes there’s something you want to do so badly and somehow … you just can’t find the right way to do it.” Rick says and Rebecca freezes, immediately assuming that he’s going to break with her.“Well, sometimes it’s better to just get it over with. Just throw it out…” She suggests.

“Throw it out? We’re not talking about last night’s dinner.” Rick seems unconvinced and Rebecca tenses up even further, if that is at all possible. Holding back her disappointment she coolly says:“Just like a band-aid. Pull it off. It will hurt the least.”

“Not exactly what I had in mind, but here it comes….” He warns and Rebecca braces herself for the let down, the excuse, reason why, oh, please don’t let there be someone else and she never noticed… Rick takes her hand and opens it to place a small box in the palm of her hand. “Will you marry me, Rebecca Harper?”

“What?” Rebecca stares at the burgundy-red velvet box and Rick opens it to show the ring. “You want to marry me? I thought you wanted to break up with me?”“Break up with you? Why? I love you.” Rick’s words are so simple that Rebecca finally dares to believe them.

“And I love you.” She smiles happily.“So the answer is yes?” He asks hopeful and she jumps up, wraps her arms around him and covers him with kisses.“Yes! Oh, my God. Yes, I’ll marry you.”